Hectic schedules and tours almost prevented me from jotting down the thoughts around Indian football. So, here I am back again to share thoughts with you all.

The past one month had been a real hectic one. From a chanced visit to Goa followed by the sudden development centering around AIFF after Mr Alberto Colaco decided to put in his papers after his eight-year reign as secretary.

Lot of people have been asking me one simple question: Who would be the next secretary? From Mr Praful Patel to coaches and even Indian players. During the course of a meeting with AIFF president early this month, even Mr Patel wanted my opinion. "It's difficult to say. But whoever comes must have passion, clarity and an honest approach," I told him.

Yes, honesty. That's what we don't apply while chalking out programmes to resuscitate Indian football. Let's take the case of the youth develpment project currently underway at Goa. 16 boys were asked to leave after they were found over-aged. How did they manage to get into the camp? Who should take the responsibility? The state associations or the AIFF secretariat? Collin Toal is upset. So is his staff. After all, a good one-year had been wasted on some over-aged players.

Is this what we call honesty? The Federation's silence on the issue is even more damaging. Mr Colaco-led Secretariat just couldn't take a tough stand against the erring States who had sent all these 'suspected' players to the camp. If conducting MRI tests on the players is expensive, then the Federation could have instructed the states to ask the 'suspected' players to arrange MRI tests on their own.

But I guess there was no coordination between the Federation and the States during all these years. May be, he didn't want a direct confrontation with the power-wielding members.

Mr Colaco did you really justify your rank and role? Why did you get into the petty politics of AIFF when you are a paid secretary? Ahhh..he wanted to reply through emails. But he simply couldn't even scribble the answers. Lest he may land into more trouble.

We all know about his faulty recruitment policy which had raised eyebrows. There were a couple of positions in AIFF which were held by those whom he thought will be an asset for Indian football. A MBA Grad who would churn out success stories for him. Interestingly, he left the AIFF job (which I am sure he had struggled) to launch his own company and used AIFF as a mere platform all the while. Your take on this Mr Colaco?

Why am I so critical about this Goan? My close friends and those who are linked with football often ask me. Well my friends, he simply doesn't have an honest approach.
Otherwise, Indian football would have looked healthy.

The rankings (men & women teams) wouldn't have dipped. The proposed Bharti-AIFF academy would have taken some shape. There's more failure than success that he can claim to have in these eight years. If that was not enough, the burly Goan was seen trying to garner some sympathy from an influential AFC big-shot, who felt that Mr Colaco's absence would further weaken Indian football. Huh. The AFC official must be joking, otherwise Indian football would have taken a giant leap during these eight years.

So, say good-bye to AIFF, Mr Colaco. Indian football now desperately is in need for some young and dynamic personality.